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ANTIC  CHRISTIAN  COLLEGE 
ONSTRUCTIVE   STATE  WORK 


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RENEVOLENT  HOMES 


Library  of  the 
University  of  North  Carolina 

Endowed  by  the  Dialectic  and  Philan- 
thropic Societies 


Cp3ig,  ASSt 


CAROLINA  ENLARGEMENT  CAMPAIGN 
DISCIPLES  OF  CHRIST 


ATLANTIC    CHRISTIAN    COLLEGE 

CONSTRUCTIVE  STATE  WORK 

BENEVOLENT  HOMES 


1920 
'Commercial  Printing  Company, 
RALEIGH 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/carolinaenlargemOOdisc 


ACTS  OF  STATE  CONVENTIONS 

The  State  Convention  of  Disciples  of  Christ,  of  North  Carolina,  meeting  at 
Robersonville,  Nov.  3-6,  1919,  approved  and  ordered  the  Campaign  within  North 
Carolina  for  $200,000.00  for  Atlantic  Christian  College,  $25,000.00  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Raleigh  Church  of  Christ,  and  $25,000.00  for  Benevolent  Homes  of 
Disciples  of  Christ  in  Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  Jacksonville,  Florida. 

The  State  Convention  of  Disciples  of  Christ  of  South  Carolina,  meeting  at 
Columbia  Nov.  6-9,  1919,  approved  and  advised  the  Campaign  within  South  Caro- 
lina for  $3,000.00  for  Atlantic  Christian  College,  $4,000.00  for  Constructive  State 
Work  of  Disciples  of  Christ  in  South  Carolina,  and  $3,000.00  for  the  Benevolent 
Homes  of  Disciples  of  Christ  at  Atlanta,  and  Jacksonville. 

DISTRIBUTION  OF  GIFTS 

The  Treasurer  of  the  Carolina  Enlargement  Campaign  will  distribute  all  un- 
designated receipts  upon  the  basis  above  indicated,  transmitting  to  each  of  the 
participating  organizations  its  due  portion.  The  said  Treasurer  will  upon  the 
receipt  of  any  designated  gift,  promptly  account  for  same  with  both  the  giver  and 
the  interest  for  which  the  gift  is  designated. 


CENTRAL  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

W.   C.   Manning,  Chairman,  Williamston,  N.   C. 

Hayes  Parish,   Belhaven,  N.  C. 

J.  E.  Stuart,  109  East  Vance  St.,  Wilson,  N.  C. 

Richard  Bagby,  Academy  St.,  Washington,  N.  C. 

J.  P.  Atkins,  Ayden,  N.  C. 

John  M.  Waters,  Arapahoe,  N.  C. 

Thos.  J.  Hackney,  Wilson,  N.  C. 

C.  C.  Ware,   Box  164,  Wilson,  N.  C. 

Bernard  P  Smith,  109  N.  McLewean,  Kinston,  N.  C. 

A.  B.  Reeves,  1516  Barnwell  St.,   Columbia,  S.  C. 

W.  H.  Brunson,   178  Calhoun  St.,   Charleston,   S.   C. 

I.     SPIRITUAL  RESOURCES  COMMITTEE 

P.  B.  Hall,  Chairman,  Box  46,  Newbern,  N.  C. 

H.  Gait  Braxton,  Box  584,  Kinston,  N.  C. 

C.  W.  Howard,  1012  N.  Queen  St.,  Kinston,  N.  C. 

W.  Wayne  Miller,  85  Middletown  St.,  Orangeburg,  S.  C. 

II.     LIFE  ENLISTMENT  COMMITTEE 

H.   S.  Hilley,   Chairman,   A.   C.   College,  Wilson,   N.   C. 
Richard  Bagby,  Academy  St.,  Washington,  N.   C. 
Jno.  M.  Waters,  Arapahoe,  N.  C. 
C   B.  Mashburn,   Ellenton,  S.   C. 


III.     PUBLICITY  COMMITTEE 

C.  C.  Ware,  Chairman,  Box  164,  Wilson,  N.  C. 

J.   E.   Stuart,   109  E.  Vance  St.,   Wilson,  N.   C. 

Hayes  Farish,   Belhaven,  N.   C. 

Dona  S  McDonald,  121  N.  Washington  St.,  Sumter,  S.  C. 


IV.     FINANCE  COMMITTEE 

Thos.   J.   Hackney,   Chairman,   Wilson,   N.    C. 
S.  G.  Mewborn,  Wilson,  N.  C. 
L  J.  Chapman,  Grifton,  N.  C. 
J.   C.  Richardson,  Garnett,  S.  C. 


^ 


Atlantic  Christian  College 

CAROLINA  DISCIPLES'   INVESTMENT  IN   CHRISTIAN 

EDUCATION 


THIS  INVESTMENT  IS  DIRECTLY  RELATED 
TO  THEIR  GROWTH 

Evidence:  Disciples  have  been  active  in  the  Carolinas  since  the  third  decade 
of  the  Nineteenth  Century.  After  a  Disciples'  Organization  had  been  functioning 
in  this  region  for  sixty-one  years,  Atlantic  Christian  College  was  founded  in  1902. 
Disciple  membership  in  this  region  was  11,413  in  1902,  and  25,492  in  1920. 

Carolina  Disciples  grew  to  number  11,413  in  sixty-one  years  without  a 

College.     Carolina  Disciples  increased  in  number,  14,079  in 

eighteen  years  with  a  College. 


This  Investment  Has  Been  Well  Managed 

Evidence:  Starting  in  1902  with  heavy  indebtedness  on  property,  in  1920  the 
College  holds  realty  free  of  debt  valued  at  $158,000.00,  and  a  Permanent  Fund 
from  the  late  C.  N.  Nurney,  in  addition,  amounting  to  $30,000.00.  Disciple  gifts 
during  the  opening  year  of  the  College  were  $3,688.02,  and  since  then  these  gifts 
have  totaled  only  about  $60,000.00,  which  have  been  applied  to  liquidation  of  origi- 
nal debts  on  realty,  and  to  general  maintenance  of  the  Institution.  Hence  for 
their  cash  gifts,  amounting  to  grand  total  of  onlv  about  $65,000.00,  they  have  this 
College  with  her  $158,000.00  in  evaluated  realty,'  and  a  beginning  of  $30,000.00  in 
Endowment,  and  all  the  traditions  and  good  will  of  efficient  service. 


This  Investment  Imperatively  Must  Be  Increased 

The  State  (North  Carolina),  made  an  outright  gift,  for  mere  maintenance 
purposes,  of  $189.00  per  enrolled  student  in  her  Institutions  this  last  year.  Like- 
wise the  disciples  only  $78.00  per  enrolled  student.  Do  we  think  less  of  our 
Christian  education  than  our  State  does  of  her  civil  education  ? 

The  new  day  brings  greatly  increased  demand.  The  Carolinas  are  vastly 
richer  today  than  in  1902.    They  can  abundantly  supply  this  new  demand. 


THE  CAROLINA  ENLARGEMENT   CAMPAIGN  IS 

TO  PROVIDE  $200,000  FOR 

ATLANTIC  CHRISTIAN  COLLEGE 


»  $!■  •■  "4| 


Dormitory  for  Women. 


Dormitory  for  Men. 


Class   in   Biology,   A.    C.    College. 


Auditorium,  A.   C.   College. 


Library,  A.  C.  College. 


Y.  W.  C.  A.,  A.  C.  College. 


4       '■       ' 


A    Group   of    Some    Ministers.,    A    C.    College. 


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Atlantic  Christian  College  at  Present 

Endowment.       Income.  Equipment.  Plant. 

$30,000  $6,172  $14,959  $125,000 

Atlantic  Christian  College  After  Success  of 
Present  Efforts 

Endowment.       Income.  Equipment.  Plant. 

$130,000  $15,000  $25,000  $215,000 

Atlantic  Christian  College  of  the  More  Distant 

Future 

Endowment.       Income.  Equipment.  Plant. 

$600,000  $36,000  $50,000  $300,000 


Atlantic  Christian  College  Needs 

1.  Endowment  of  at  least  $100,000.00. 

2.  New  Site  and  Adequate  Equipment  for  College  Enlargement. 

3.  A  Library  Building. 

4.  A  Gymnasium. 

5.  A  Central  Heating  Plant. 

6.  A  Music  Hall. 

7.  A  Science  Hall. 

8.  Additional  Residences  for  Faculty. 

9.  Adequate  Compensation  of  Faculty. 

10.  Temporary  improvements  to  present  buildings,  approximating 
$6,000.00,  and  funds  to  provide  needs  of  music  and  science 
departments. 


Trained  Spiritual  Leadership  is  the  Life  of  the  Church 

The  State  says,  ''Religion  is  not  our  business." 

The  Church  dares  not  say,  "Education  is  not  our  business." 

The  soul  of  education  is  the  education  of  the  soul. 

President  Dwight  said:  "The  man  who  can  convince  Christian  people 
of  the  close  connection  between  the  maintenance  of  Christian  Colleges 
and  the  prosperity  and  growth  of  the  Church  will  be  a  benefactor  to 
the  race." 

Atlantic  Christian  College  Means  Trained  Leadership 
for  Carolina  Disciples. 

Service  In  the  Home  Field. 

A.  C.  College  men  minister  to  Churches  of  Christ  as  follows : 

I.  In  North  Carolina 

Beaufort  County,  seven  churches  Craven  County,  three  churches 

Currituck  County,  six  churches  Edgecombe  County,  two  churches 

Greene  County,  two  churches  Halifax  County,  one  church 

Hyde  County,  one  church  Johnston  County,  two  churches 

Jones  County,  five  churches  Lenoir  County,  two  churches 

Martin  County,  four  churches  New  Hanover  County,  one  church 

Onslow  County,  one  church  Pamlico  County,  four  churches 

Pasquotank  County,  one  church  Perquimans  County,  one  church 

Pitt  County,  seven  churches  Tyrrell  County,  three  churches 

Wake  County,  one  church  Washington  County,  two  churches 

Wayne   County,  one  church  Wilson  County,  two  churches 

II.  In  South  Carolina 

Barnwell  County,  one  church  Aiken  County,  one  church 

The  Field  of  Service  Grows  Greater. 
To  Supply  it  the  College  Must  Enlarge. 


RALEIGH,  NORTH  CAROLINA 

Clear  Objective  for  Disciple  Effort 

Raleigh  is  a  city  of  forty  thousand  souls ;  an  educational  center,  whence- 
gather  many  youths  of  disciple  families,  for  special,  technical,  and  agri- 
cultural training;  a  civic  center,  where  the  legislators  assemble,  a  number 
of  whom  at  every  session  are  active  disciples ;  the  old  and  tradition- 
embowered  "Oak-City,"  in  a  leading  one  of  the  Original  Thirteen  States; 
and  the  expanding  modern  city,  the  Capital  and  outstanding  community 
center  of  the  State  which  ranks  fourth  now  among  all  the  States  in  the- 
value  of  her  farm  products. 

And  Raleigh  is  the  Only  State  Capital  in  the  United  States  Without  a. 

Building    of    Disciples    of    Christ   where    the    Disciples 

are  as  Numerous  as  in  North  Carolina. 

According  to  the  federal  religious  census,  the  disciples,  considered  as 
a  distinct  communion,  rank  fourth  in  number  among  the  religious  peoples 
in  the  State.  Yet  a  considerable  number  of  the  religious  bodies,  each 
of  which  has  a  smaller  number  of  communicants  within  the  State  than 
the  disciples,  and  therefore  in  that  sense  less  representative  of  the  State 
as  a  whole  than  the  disciples,  have  representation  in  the  religious  life 
of  the  Capital  City  with  commodious  and  attractive  houses   of  worship. 

WHAT  OPPORTUNITY  HAVE  THE  DISCIPLES  IN  RALEIGH? 

Their  Opportunity  is  Certainly  So  Good  that  it 
Challenges  Development 

For  five  years  a  Bible  School  of  the  disciples,  with  average  attendance 
of  about  thirty,  has  met  regularly  in  a  hall  in  Raleigh ;  the  Lord 's 
Supper  observed;  and  occasionally  a  sermon  is  preached  to  them  by  a 
non-resident  minister. 

Raleigh  Disciples  must  have  an  Effective  Ministry  of  the  Word 
with  an  Adequate  Plant 

PUT  A  PLATFORM  FOR  "THE  PLEA"  IN  RALEIGH 

The  Carolina  Enlargement  Campaign  Is  To  Provide  Twenty-five 
Thousand  Dollars  For  This  Establishment  Of  the  Raleigh  Church. 


HOW  WE  GROW. 


Our  Raleigh   Bible   School,  1917. 


Our  Raleigh  Bible  School,  1920. 


Our  New  Church  Lot  in  Raleigh. 


The  above  is  a  good  view  of  our  church  lot  recently  negotiated  in  our 
Capital  City.  Raleigh  Disciples  have  themselves  taken  the  initiative  in 
going  their  limit  toward  getting  this  lot  and  making  first  payment, 
May  1,  1920. 

This  elevated  lot  is  magnificently  located  on  the  most  prominent 
thoroughfare  of  the  city,  at  the  corner  of  Hillsboro  Street  and  Glenwood 
Avenue,  dimensions:  (double  lot)  103  feet  front  (Hillsboro  Street),  by 
125  feet  depth  (Glenwood  Avenue).  It  is  five  blocks  from  the  Capitol; 
four  blocks  from  the  Union  Station ;  six  blocks  from  the  State  College ; 
and  in  immediate  proximity  to  other  great  educational  plants. 

This  vacant  lot  gives  clear  challenge  to  North  Carolina 
Disciples. 

Put  a  Platform  for  "The  Plea"  in  Raleigh, 

The  Carolina  Enlargement  Campaign  is  to  provide 
$25,000.00  for  the  establishment  of  this  Raleigh  Church 
of  Christ. 


South  Carolina 
Great  Home  Mission  Field 


The  Carolina  Enlargement  Campaign,  Disciples  of  Christ, 
shares  40%  of  its  undesignated  receipts  from  South  Carolina  with 
the  South  Carolina  State  Board,  that  some  of  the  following  great 
opportunities  of  Disciples  of  Christ  at  important  points  in  South 
Carolina  may  be  realized : 

I.  One  Thousand  Dollars  For  Building  at  Monks  Corner. 

Here  in  the  capital  of  Berkeley  County,  largest  County  in  the 
State,  the  twenty-five  disciples  own  a  good  lot.  The  building  here 
must  go  forward  that  we  may  establish  our  work,  and  with  a  strong 
minister,  serve  effectively  our  relatively  large  and  resourceful  con- 
stituency in  Berkeley  County  from  this  central  station. 

II.  One  Thousand  Dollars  For  Building  at  Batesburg. 

The  thirty  disciples  here  own  a  good  lot.  It  is  a  fine  town  and  in 
an  excellent  territory  where  disciples  should  let  their  light  shine. 
M.  W.  Mason,  of  Columbia,  has  helped  these  earnest  disciples  with 
his  faithful  ministry.     Their  needs  should  be  adequately  supplied. 

III.  One  Thousand  Dollars  For  a  Located  Minister  in  the  Piedmont  Field. 

The  faithful  bands  of  disciples  in  the  thriving  cities  of  Green- 
wood, Anderson,  Greenville,  and  Westminster,  should  speedily  be 
supplied  with  strong  ministry  of  the  Word. 

IV.  One  Thousand  Dollars  For  State  Evangelistic  and  Pastoral  Service. 

The  good  work  of  the  State  Evangelist  should  be  maintained. 
Sumter,  Florence,  and  Orangeburg  are  highly  promising  fields 
where  pastoral  service  must  be  kept  at  the  highest  level  of  effect- 
iveness. 

South  Carolina  Disciples  Are  Asked  Specially  to  Pro- 
vide Four  Thousand  Dollars  for  South  Carolina 
Missions  in  the  Carolina  Enlargement  Campaign, 
Disciples  of  Christ. 


THE   NATIONAL  BENEVOLENT   ASSOCIATION 


Officers 
W.     P.     Clarkson,     -    President 
R.    A.     Long,     -     -     Vice-Pres't 
J.    W.    Perry,    -    -    Vice-Pres't 
Mrs.    H.    H.   Hodgdon, 

Rec.   Secretary 


of  the 

Christian  Church 

2955    North    Euclid   Avenue 
Saint    Louis,  Missouri 


Officers 
Lee    W.    Grant,    -    -    Treasurer 
Mrs   J.    K.    Hansbrough, 

Cor.     Secretary 
James    H.    Mohorter, 

Gen'l    Secretary 


PROGRAM  OF  ENLARGEMENT  IN  THE  SOUTH. 

The  neglected  South  is  finally  coming  into  her  own.  Before  many  more 
months  go  by  we  expect  to  see  completed  two  of  the  best  Homes  in  our 
Brotherhood — the  new  building  for  The  Southern  Christian  Home, 
constructed  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  and  the  building  recently  purchased  at 
Jacksonville,  Florida,  remodeled  for  a  Home  for  the  Aged. 


Proposed    Children's    Home,    Atlanta,    Ga. 


The  Southern  Christian  Home 

A  Beautiful  Ministry 

The  history  of  the  National  Benevolent  Association's  work  in  the  South 
began  when  the  mission  school  at  Baldwin,  Georgia,  was  taken  over  by 
the  Association  at  the  solicitation  of  the  Woman's  Society  of  Georgia 
Missions  to  be  conducted  as  a  Children's  Home  for  Orphans  and  other 
unfortunate  children.  Because  of  the  handicap  of  a  small  community 
for  this  kind  of  work,  in  its  lack  of  opportunity  for  specializing  in  the 
education  and  development  of  the  children,  and  in  its  lack  of  high  class 
medical  and  surgical  skill,  it  finally  became  apparent  that  Baldwin  was 
not  a  suitable  location  for  an  institution  of  this  kind.  Besides  it  was 
located  so  far  from  the  lines  of  travel  of  our  people  that  it  was  impossible 
to  establish  that  intimate  relation  between  the  Home  and  the  churches 
upon  which  it  must  depend  for  support.  These  considerations  and  others 
made  it  seem  best  to  remove  the  Home  from  Baldwin  to  a  larger 
community. 


Invited  To  Atlanta. 

Acting  upon  this  conviction  the  Association,  after  counseling  with  local 
leaders,  decided  to  remove  the  Home  to  a  more  favorable  community. 
Among  the  many  invitations  from  communities  desiring  the  Home,   the 


one  that  made  the  strongest  appeal  was  Atlanta,  because  it  offered 
almost  every  requisite  for  the  work  contemplated  by  the  Southern  Home. 
So  Atlanta's  invitation  was  accepted,  and  at  a  meeting  of  representatives 
of  all  our  churches  there,  held  Aug.  22,  1911,  in  the  parlors  of  the  First 
Church,  a  board  of  managers  was  formed  and  committees  were  appointed 
to  take  charge  of  removing  the  Home  from  Baldwin  to  Atlanta.  An  old 
residence  at  299  Lee  Street  was  rented  and  the  children  were  moved  into  it. 

A  Great  Work  Under  a  Great  Handicap. 

If  there  was  any  doubt  about  the  wisdom  of  this  change  it  has  been 
removed  by  the  results  that  have  been  little  short  of  marvelous.  Under 
the  strong  and  efficient  management  of  the  local  board,  and  with  the 
opportunities  of  daily  contact  in  the  schools  and  churches  with  men  and 
women  and  children  of  culture  and  character,  a  remarkable  transforma- 
tion was  effected  in  the  lives  of  the  children  of  the  Home.  So  great  was 
this  change  that  the  whole  community,  which  at  first  was  up  in  arms 
at  the  thought  of  an  orphanage  in  their  midst,  was  so  impressed  by  the 
quiet,  orderly  conduct  of  the  Home,  the  good  manners  of  the  children 
and  the  manifest  good  being  done,  that  not  only  was  all  fear  disarmed 
but  the  people  began  to  vie  with  each  other  in  practical  expressions  of 
friendship  in  service. 

The  family  has  averaged  forty  of  the  most  desperately  needy  children 
in  all  the  land.  They  have  been  gathered  from  all  the  Southern  States. 
They  have  been  received  diseased  and  starved  in  body  and  mind,  to  be 
placed  in  Christian  family  homes  or  returned  to  their  places  in  society 
clean,  healthy,  normal  boys  and  girls  and  young  men  and  women.  Their 
record  in  school  and  Bible  school  has  been  above  the  average.  They  have 
united  with  the  church  in  large  numbers.  Some  of  them  have  grown  to 
manhood  and  womanhood  and  have  taken  their  places  among  the  most 
substantial  citizens  in  their  respective  communities.  The  work  done  by 
this  Home  has  been  in  quantity  and  character  such  as  causes  the  angels 
to  rejoice,  and  all  without  equipment. 

A  New  Building  Imperative. 

All  this  splendid  work  was  done  under  the  handicap  of  very  limited 
and  imperfect  equipment.  The  building  was  poorly  adapted  to  the  needs 
of  the  work,  providing  less  than  half  the  room  needed  to  serve  even  the 
small  family  of  forty.  There  was  no  play  ground.  Every  available  space 
was  used.  The  boys,  some  twenty  odd,  were  kept  in  the  garret  with  only 
one  window  for  ventilation  and  approached  by  a  narrow  winding  stairway 
from  the  second  floor.  So  great  was  the  fire  menace  that  finally  the  city 
of  Atlanta  entered  protest  and  insisted  the  children  should  be  more 
safely  housed. 

All  of  these  considerations,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  scores  of  worthy 
children  were  being  turned  away  every  year,  put  the  National  Benevolent 
Association,  and  especially  the  churches  of  the  South  under  imperative 
obligation  to  furnish  the  Southern  Christian  Home  with  a  building  of 
its  own  without  delay.  It  must  be  large  enough  to  adequately  serve 
the  southeastern  group  of  States.  So  plans  for  a  new  building  have 
been  adopted.  It  will  be  approximately  fireproof,  and  will  be  one  of 
the  most  ideal  buildings  in  the  United  States  for  the  modern  scientific 
care  of  children.  It  will  be  ornate  in  appearance  and  perfectly  adapted 
to  the  beautiful  Christian  ministry  which  it  is  designed  to  serve.  It  will 
accommodate  110  children. 


Our  New  Location. 

After  a  long  search  covering  the  various  sections  of  Atlanta,  the  Waldo 
lot  of  about  4%  acres,  beautiful  in  situation,  well  shaded  with  large 
oaks,  with  garden  plot  and  fruit  trees  and  grape  arbor,  was  purchased 
for  $35,000  last  fall.  It  is  located  on  Cleburne  and  Copen  Hill  Avenues, 
within  a  couple  of  blocks  of  a  public  school.  Our  family  of  46  children 
moved  into  the  building  on  this  property  in  November  and  so  for  the 
first  time  we  are  under  our  own  roof.  But  we  are  still  crowded.  It 
will  require  at  least  $100,000  to  erect  the  new  building.  When  this 
building  becomes  a  reality  it  will  be  a  great  joy  and  credit  to  our 
people  of  the  South. 

What  the  Home  Does. 

The  Southern  Christian  Home  receives  full  orphan  children,  half 
orphan  children  needing  aid  and  care,  and  children  who  must  be  rescued 
from  vicious  parents.  It  boards  those  who  have  need  of  temporary 
assistance  and  who  have  a  living  parent.  It  seeks  always  to  keep  mother 
and  child  together,  hence  it  aids  mothers  in  the  support  of  their  children. 
It  places  every  placeable  child  as  soon  as  possible  in  a  Christian  family 
home,  on  the  theory  that  a  good  family  home  is  better  for  the  child  than 
the  best  of  institutions.  Children  that  for  any  reason  can  not  be  placed, 
and  who  must  therefore  be  kept  in  the  Home,  are  sent  to  the  public 
school  and  given  vocational  training  that  they  may  become  self-sustaining, 
contributing  members  of  society.  In  its  work  for  the  children  it  asks 
no  questions  about  the  religious  affiliation  of  the  parents;  its  one  thought 
is  the  child's  welfare. 


Home   for   the    Aged,    Jacksonville,    Fla. 


The  Care  Of  the  Aged  In  the  South. 

A  Gracious  Ministry. 

The  South  has  waited  long  and  patiently  for  a  Home  for  the  Aged. 
Much  sooner  than  we  could  have  possibly  hoped  an  opportunity  came 
to  realize  our  dream  for  a  resting  place  in  the  South  for  the  aged  of 
our  Brotherhood  who  become  stranded  in  their  last  days  because  the  span 
of  their  lives  outreaches  the  span  of  their  dollars.  The  National  Benevolent 
Association  acquired  last  fall  the  property  of  the  bankrupt  Florida 
Military  Academy  at  Murry  Hill,  a  beautiful  suburban  community  of 
Jacksonville,  Florida.  This  property  consists  of  six  acres  of  land  under 
cultivation,  and  a  very  substantial,  ornate  brick  building.  When 
remodeled  it  will  accommodate   about  seventy-five   persons. 


A  Providential  Opportunity. 

The  opportunity  to  secure  it  seemed  providential.  The  Association  was 
confronted  with  a  long  and  constantly  growing  list  of  waiting  applicants. 
Daily  messages  were  being  received  from  churches  and  ministers  begging 
us  in  mercy's  name  to  admit  some  worthy  Disciple  of  Christ  in  dire 
distress.  Often  and  often  before  the  request  could  be  granted  the 
applicant  had  to  be  sent  to  the  poorhouse,  to  the  humiliation  of  the 
church.  The  necessity  for  the  enlargement  was  great,  but  there  was  the 
prohibitive  cost  of  building  standing  squarely  across  the  way.  The  Board 
was  perplexed  and  distressed.  Immediate  enlargement  was  a  necessity 
and  the  per  capita  cost  of  a  new  building  was  staggering.  Then  came 
word  from  John  T.  Boone,  minister  of  the  First  Church,  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  that  the  creditors  of  the  Florida  Military  Academy  would  take 
their  equity,  $30,000,  for  the  property.  A  careful  appraisement  places 
its  present  valuation  at  from  $60,000  to  $75,000.  "When  remodeled  and 
equipped  it  will  give  us  an  ideal  home  for  the  aged  and  enable  us  to 
give  relief  almost  immediately  to  that  long  line  of  travel-worn  pilgrims 
who  stand  waiting  outside  our  doors. 

Florida  furnishes  a  delightful  climate  for  old  people.  The  winters  are 
mild,  indeed  they  are  often  so  mild  as  to  scarcely  require  any  fuel. 
Vegetation  is  abundant.  Flowers  bloom  almost  every  month  in  the  year. 
Here,  fanned  by  the  sea  breezes  in  summer,  secure  from  the  rigors  of 
our  northern  winters,  they  will  find  the  largest  degree  of  comfort. 
Within  three  months  time  the  Association  hopes  to  be  ready  to  throw 
open  the  doors  of  this  beautiful  home  with  a  cordial  welcome  to  our 
aged,  needy  brethren.  Here  they  will  find  each  a  room  for  himself  with 
hot  and  cold  water.  Here  they  will  find  a  reading  room,  spacious  social 
rooms,  a  good  chapel  and  a  hospital. 


Fine  Investment — Big  Returns. 

In  addition  to  the  $30,000  purchase  price  it  will  require  $20,000  to 
remodel  this  building  and  $14,450  for  equipment,  as  follows :  Chapel, 
$1,500;  dining  room,  $500;  hospital,  $500;  lobby  reception  hall,  $300; 
receiving  hall,  $300;  office,  $300;  elevator,  $4,000;  7  double  bedrooms, 
$150  each;  58  single  bedrooms,  $100  each.  We  need  this  money  at  once 
to  prepare  this  building  to  house  the  old  people  on  our  waiting  lists.  A 
fine  chance  for  individuals,  Bible  schools  and  churches  to  make  an 
investment  with  most  satisfactory  returns  in  love  and  gratitude  from 
those  who  have  been  waiting  so  long  to  get  in  our  Homes. 

These  two  Homes  furnish  a  fine  opportunity  for  the  concrete  expression 
of  the  benevolent  spirit  in  the  Christian  churches  of  all  the  South.  Not 
that  the  members  of  our  churches  do  not  contribute  toward  benevolent 
work,  they  do  through  other  institutions.  And  this  they  should  do  when 
no  other  opportunities  are  offered.  But  now  that  we  have  these  two 
institutions  representing  our  people  in  the  South,  an  opportunity 
abounding  with  great  privileges  and  joy  is  furnished  the  Christian 
churches  to  do  a  creditable  task  in  a  beautiful  and  gracious  ministry. 
The  absence  of  open  doors  of  mercy  sustained  by  our  people  leaves  the 
impression  on  our  religious  neighbors  that  the  Christian  churches  are 
sadly  lacking  in  "pure  and  undefiled  religion."  It  is  not  the  local 
houses  of  worship,  so  much  as  public  institutions  for  Christian  service 
that  advertise  the  church  and  make  it  as  "a  city  that  is  set  on  a  hill." 
The  Church  can  not  grow  as  it  should  until  it  ministers  as  Christ 
ministered. 


Two  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars 

will  be  needed  to  pay  for  these  properties  and  put  these  two  buildings 
into  operation.  We  are  counting  on  the  gracious  generosity,  so 
characteristic  of  the  Southern  people,  to  furnish  this  amount,  and  we 
are  sure  our  people  of  the  Carolinas  will  join,  heartily  and  sympathetically, 
with  the  other  states  of  the  South  in  furniishing  this  $200,000  as  speedily 
as  possible.  The  canvass  for  this  fund  was  begun  last  May  in  Georgia 
and  has  been  carried  on  in  Georgia,  Alabama  and  Mississippi,  and  has 
met  with  a  very  generous  response  so  far.  AVhen  it  was  begun,  only 
the  building  in  Atlanta  was  contemplated.  The  Jacksonville  Home  has 
greatly  increased  the  amount  needed.  This  added  burden  was  assumed 
because  of  our  faith  in  the  Southern  people,  shown  by  their  generous 
response  last  summer.  This  larger  amount  can  be  reached,  but  it  will 
require  the  most  sympathetic  cooperation  of  all  our  people  in  the 
Sunny  South. 


Fred  Kline. 


E.  S.  Muckley. 


Belt    White. 


These  three  men  represent  National  Benevolent  Association  as  Campaigners 
in  the  "Carolina  Enlargement  Campaign,  Disciples  of  Christ." 


